Rental - no inventory/condition report

wazza07

Hi. We'll shortly be informing our agents that we'll be leaving our rental at the end of our assured shorthold tenancy end date.
When we moved in we received no check in inventory or schedule of condition even though we did chase them for this (we have email proof). We're not particularly worried as we've not damaged anything (it's only been a six month tenancy) but the agents have been poor throughout so I wouldn't put it past them to try something on. I take it having no inventory supports us more than it does the agents/landlord if they want to try and claim for any damage etc? We've not signed any documents that state the condition of the property when we moved in. Obviously there's the images/video tour from the original ad but that's about it. We've also got pictures we took when we moved in of various scuffs, scratches, minor damage already there etc...

tacpot12

It is upto to the landlord to show that damage has been caused if they want to make any deductions from a deposit. Normally they would have an inventory and condition report from before you moved in, and a similar after you move out. In the absence of these, the video tour can be used, but you also have evidence of all the minor damage and so can refute any suggestions that you caused pre-existing damage. 

Did you leave a deposit and was the deposit protected in a tenancy deposit scheme?  

wazza07

tacpot12 said:

It is upto to the landlord to show that damage has been caused if they want to make any deductions from a deposit. Normally they would have an inventory and condition report from before you moved in, and a similar after you move out. In the absence of these, the video tour can be used, but you also have evidence of all the minor damage and so can refute any suggestions that you caused pre-existing damage. 

Did you leave a deposit and was the deposit protected in a tenancy deposit scheme?  

Thanks for that! The video tour is quite brief so doesn’t show many of the minor defects but as we’ve got picture evidence hopefully we’ll be able to refute any allegations they make. Our deposit is protected in a TDS (they sent us a copy of the prescribed information with all the details). 

greatcrested

You're fine.

Post 3: Deposits: Payment, Protection and Return.

lookstraightahead

if I were you I would look forward to getting all of my deposit back

wazza07

Thanks all - definitely reassured now. 

dimbo61

So 6 months ago in the middle of the first lockdown when video inventory companies were on furlough and letting agents closed you managed to move into a rental property and your surprised they didn't get an comprehensive inventory done !
Many landlords were struggling to get a Gas Safe Engineer out to do the GSC done let alone nice and sensible things to do.
Your landlord won't be able to keep any of your deposit unless they can show obvious damage.
You are looking for a new home and the Landlord needs new tenants and all the costs that entails after only 6 months .

lookstraightahead

dimbo61 said:

So 6 months ago in the middle of the first lockdown when video inventory companies were on furlough and letting agents closed you managed to move into a rental property and your surprised they didn't get an comprehensive inventory done !
Many landlords were struggling to get a Gas Safe Engineer out to do the GSC done let alone nice and sensible things to do.
Your landlord won't be able to keep any of your deposit unless they can show obvious damage.
You are looking for a new home and the Landlord needs new tenants and all the costs that entails after only 6 months .

If the landlord felt solo unloved maybe they shouldn't have rented out the property? Who on earth wouldn't do an inventory - while the property is empty - before new tenants?

wazza07

dimbo61 said:

So 6 months ago in the middle of the first lockdown when video inventory companies were on furlough and letting agents closed you managed to move into a rental property and your surprised they didn't get an comprehensive inventory done !
Many landlords were struggling to get a Gas Safe Engineer out to do the GSC done let alone nice and sensible things to do.
Your landlord won't be able to keep any of your deposit unless they can show obvious damage.
You are looking for a new home and the Landlord needs new tenants and all the costs that entails after only 6 months .

Oh what a load of nonsense! We only signed up for a 6 month contract so we’re under no obligation to stay any longer. The agents knew full well we only intended on staying until we found a new house to buy. Also we moved in at the end of June so your lockdown comment is irrelevant. 

saajan_12

wazza07 said:

Hi. We'll shortly be informing our agents that we'll be leaving our rental at the end of our assured shorthold tenancy end date.
When we moved in we received no check in inventory or schedule of condition even though we did chase them for this (we have email proof). We're not particularly worried as we've not damaged anything (it's only been a six month tenancy) - to check, its not just damage, but any cleaning / gardening outstanding?
but the agents have been poor throughout so I wouldn't put it past them to try something on. I take it having no inventory supports us more than it does the agents/landlord if they want to try and claim for any damage etc? We've not signed any documents that state the condition of the property when we moved in. - dual signed inventory would be the best proof of the condition at the start, but not strictly necessary if they can prove the condition some other way.

Obviously there's the images/video tour from the original ad but that's about it. We've also got pictures we took when we moved in of various scuffs, scratches, minor damage already there etc...- your pictures will be great if they claim any pre-existing damage. 

Don't worry, less proof works more in your favour than the LL's. But an inventory signed by you isn't the ONLY possible proof of the condition at the start, so you do have to make sure you repair any damage, clean, maintain garden, etc etc. They could have other ways of proving, and it would be up to the deposit scheme arbitrator or court judge whether they accept, eg
- inventory completed but not sent to you (better if dated or done by a 3rd party)
- receipts of new items purchased shortly before you moved in
- receipts of cleaning & records from cleaner on what was done
- 

wazza07

saajan_12 said:

wazza07 said:

Hi. We'll shortly be informing our agents that we'll be leaving our rental at the end of our assured shorthold tenancy end date.
When we moved in we received no check in inventory or schedule of condition even though we did chase them for this (we have email proof). We're not particularly worried as we've not damaged anything (it's only been a six month tenancy) - to check, its not just damage, but any cleaning / gardening outstanding?
but the agents have been poor throughout so I wouldn't put it past them to try something on. I take it having no inventory supports us more than it does the agents/landlord if they want to try and claim for any damage etc? We've not signed any documents that state the condition of the property when we moved in. - dual signed inventory would be the best proof of the condition at the start, but not strictly necessary if they can prove the condition some other way.

Obviously there's the images/video tour from the original ad but that's about it. We've also got pictures we took when we moved in of various scuffs, scratches, minor damage already there etc...- your pictures will be great if they claim any pre-existing damage. 

Don't worry, less proof works more in your favour than the LL's. But an inventory signed by you isn't the ONLY possible proof of the condition at the start, so you do have to make sure you repair any damage, clean, maintain garden, etc etc. They could have other ways of proving, and it would be up to the deposit scheme arbitrator or court judge whether they accept, eg
- inventory completed but not sent to you (better if dated or done by a 3rd party)
- receipts of new items purchased shortly before you moved in
- receipts of cleaning & records from cleaner on what was done
- 

Thanks for all that info! The house wasn’t very clean at all when we moved in but we’re happy to give it a thorough once over before we move out. The garden has been maintained but stuff was leftover from the previous tenants which we’ve got photos of. Overall the house wasn’t in the best condition when we moved in but I’m confident we’ve got enough photographic evidence to back us up.